Talking machine



A. WHITAKER ,923,559

TALKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 25, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Q: a g L o a 5 Q g Q N 9 INVENTOR- W/w W ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 22, 1933. 'w g 1,923,559

' TALKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 25, 1950 -2 Sheets-Sheei 2 lNl/EN TOR "W Ma /2m A T T'ORNE V3 Patented Aug. 22, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TALKING MACHINE Application February 25, 1930, Serial No. 431,242,

and in Great Britain March 13, 1929 13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in talking machines, and in particular to machines of the type known as portable machines and it is directed to the provision of a machine of the highest eiiiciency from the point of view of volume and quality of sound reproduction and port-v ability, compatible with the necessarily limited size. In machines of this kind, it is of advantage to provide accommodation for a number of records within the machine when the latter is not in use and, in some cases, the records have been stored in a pile on the turntable of the machine during transit.

In the machine according to the present invention, the turntable is mounted to rotate free- 1y with or upon a turntable spindle, mounted in the bottom of a box, the driving motor being arranged either wholly or in part above the level of the turntable. The turntable lies close to the bottom of the box, being spaced therefrom only sufficiently to permit free rotation of the turntable. By this arrangement, ample space is provided above the turntable and within the box in which a number of records can be accommodated for storage during transit. A turntable spindle of greater length than usual may be employed upon which a considerable number of records can be located by their central apertures when stored. A further feature of the machine is the use of an amplifying horn mouth formed by plates or leaves hinged together and to the rear wall of the box, these two members in the closed position lying close together, and forming the closure or lid of the casing and the outer of said plates being provided with wings on one or both sides and an intermediate shaped partition which is movable in a slit formed in the inner plate.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine with the amplifying horn mouth raised to permit access to the interior of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on the line AB of Fig. 1 and with the amplifying horn shown in full lines in the raised position and in dotted lines in the playing position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on a smaller scale of the machine with the parts in. the inoperative position.

Fig. 4 is an underside view on the same scale as Fig. 3 of the inside closure plate, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the horn extension in open position with one of the catches in closed position and the other in open position.

Referring to the drawings, the turntable 1 of the machine is mounted on a spindle 2 which is itself arranged for rotation in a bearing 3 fixed in the bottom 4 of the box or base portion 5 of the machine casing. The turntable llies close to the bottom 4 of the base, being spaced therefrom only sufficiently to permit the turntable to rotate freely. The turntable spindle 2 projects for a considerable distance above the surface of the turntable and thus a considerable number of records can be accommodated in position on the turntable with their central apertures over the spindle 2 during transit.

The turntable 1 is arranged to lie nearer to one side wall of the-base 5 than the other and near to the'front wall 6. In the front corner of the base, at the side where the turntable is farthest from the side wall, is mounted a small enclosed spring motor 7 from which power is transmitted to the turntable 1 through a friction wheel 8 of small diameter, driven by the motor and in frictional engagement with the turntable flange. The spring motor '7 is wound in the 30 usual manner by a winding handle 9 at the front of the machine.

A sound arm 10 of ordinary type is mounted to move about a vertical axis in a bearing 11 located in one of the rear corners of the base 5, the bearing 11 being carried at the smaller end of a section of tapering sound conduit or horn 12 extending laterally across the rear end of the base and resting on the bottom thereof. It will thus be seen that the sound arm 10, the horn 12, the turntable spindle 2, and the motor 7 are all mounted on substantially the same plane on a single support, that is, on the bottom 4 of the base 5, thereby permitting employment of a very shallow casing which will, nevertheless, readily accommodate a number of records therein in the manner described.

The outlet end 13 of this section of sound conduit 12 extends upwardly and forwardly in the base as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The shape of 1 0 horn 12 is such that the sound arm 10, when it is not in use, can be swung around into a position where it lies close to the rear wall of the base, the sound box 16 being removed, if necessary. In this position, it is clear of the turntable 1, so that a number of records may be placed over the turntable spindle 2 and, if 'necessary, secured thereon by a suitable securing device, not shown, to retain them in position while the machine is being transported. 1

To the upper rear edge of the base 5 is hinged a fiat plate 14 which, in its lowered position, serves as a closure for the base. Hinged to the rear edge of the plate 14 is a second fiat plate 15 which forms an outer closure or lid when lowered, and in this position, the plate 15 lies flat upon or contiguous to the plate 14 (see Fig. 3). The plates 14 and 15 are movable together to open the case as shown in Fig. 1 and in full lines in Fig. 2, to give access to the sound box 16, the sound arm and the turntable 1 when the machine is in use.

The outer plate is also movable to a limited extent, while the inner plate 14 remains closed, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, into a position where the two plates 14, 15 form the upper and lower bounding walls of a sound outlet or horn mouth. Connection between the horn mouth and the section of tapered sound conduit 12 is made through an aperture 17 provided in plate .14 at a position indicated in Fig. 4 spaced from the upper edge of the rear wall of the base, which aperture registers with the upwardly and forwardly extending end '13 of conduit section 12. Felt or similar pads, not shown, may be provided .between the outlet end 13 of conduitsection 12 and the edges of the aperture in plate 14.

The outlet end of the conduit section 12 is directed forwardly as well as upwardly so that it connects with the horn mouth at a point where the .latter is .of reasonably large cross sectional area, such .a position being at approximately a quarter of the length of the box from the rear Wall in a machine of such proportional dimensionsas .are indicated in the drawings.

The outer plate 15 is provided with sector shaped wings 1,8 which, in the closed position, .lie within and against the side walls of the base 5, .and the inner closure 14 is movable between these wings 18. Catches 19 are hingedly mounted at 19a on the insides of the wings 18, which catches .can be turned into the position shown in Figs. 1 .and5 to prevent plates 14 and 15 moving towards=one.another, when the machine is in use. Small metal plates 20 are also secured .to the lower edges of the wings 18 in a position where they ,project inwardly beneath the edgesrof plate 14, so that, .in operation, the horn mouth is movable .as .a single whole.

.The arrangement already described provides for .a horn mouth which tapers vertically. For the purpose of providing .lateral taper, a curved strip.21, of .sheet metal for example,- is secured to the .undersurface of plate 15. This strip 21 extends between .a .point at the rear edges of the plates 14 and 15, near the aperture 17 in plate 14.and a point near the front edges of plates 14 and 15.-at itheside away from aperture 1'7.

Thestrip .is provided with a narrow flange 22 whereby .it is connected to plate 15 byscrews 23 and a shaped slit 24 is formed in the plate 14 through which .the strip 21 can pass to enter the body of the base 5 when the machine is closed (see .Fig. 3). The horn mouth in use, therefore, .is bounded by-side walls formed by one of the wings 18 1and the strip 21 on plate 15.

'-I claim:

'1..In .-a talking machine, a base, a closure hinged to said base, and a lid for said base pivoted Ito-said closure .on an axis parallel to the hingelaxis of said .closure and cooperating with said closure to form a .horn extension, said .010- sure .andIlid lying .flat upon eachother inclosed 5 position.

2. In a talking machine, a base, a closure hinged to said base, a lid for said base pivoted to said closure on an axis parallel to the hinge axis of said closure and cooperating with saidclosure to form a horn extension, said closure and lid lying fiat upon each other in closed position and being movable relative to each other to open position, and means for limiting the relative movement of said lid and closure.

3. In a talking machine, a base, a closure hinged to said base, a lid for said base pivoted to said closure on an axis parallel to the hinge axis of said closure and cooperating with said closure to form a horn extension, said closure and lid lying flat upon each other in closed position and being movable relative to eachother to open position, and means on said lid for limiting the relative movement of said lid and closure.

-4. In a talking machine, a base, a closure hinged to said base, a lid for said base pivoted to said closure on an axis parallel to the hinge axis of said closure and cooperating with said closure to .form a horn extension, said closure and lid lying flat upon each other in closed position and being movable relative to each other to open position, and means for maintaining said closure and lid in open position.

.5. In a talking machine, a base, a closure hinged to said base, a lid for said base pivoted to said closure on an axis parallel to the hinge axis of said closure and cooperating with said closure to form a horn extension, said closure and lid lying flat .upon .each other in closed position and being movable relative .to each other to open position, and means on said lid for maintaining said closure and lid in open position.

6. In a talking machine, a base, a closure hinged to said base, a lid for said base pivoted to said closure on an axis parallel tothe hinge axis of said closure and cooperating with said closure to form a horn extension, said closure and lid lying fiat upon each other in closed position and being movable relative to each other to open position, and means connecting said lid to said closure, when in open position, for movement as a unit, without disturbing the open relation between them.

7. A portable phonograph comprising a base, a closure hinged to said base and provided with anopening therein, a horn mounted in said base and communicating with said opening, and a lid pivoted vto said closure, said lid and closure cooperating to form an extension for said horn.

8. A portable phonograph comprising a base, a closure hinged to said baseand provided with an opening therein, a horn mounted in said base and communicating ,with. said opening, a lid pivoted to said closure for movement relative thereto, and means for maintaining said lid and closure in separated relation, whereby an extension for said horn is provided.

9. A portable phonograph comprising a base, a closure hinged to said base and provided with an opening therein, a horn mounted in said base and communicating with said opening, a lid pivoted to said closure for movement relative III?!) thereto, and means on said lid for maintaining said base portion, a closure section, and a lid section, said sections being movable relative to each other to provide an extension for said horn, and both of said sections being together movable to provide access to said sound reproducing mechanism.

11. A portable phonograph comprising a base portion, sound reproducing mechanism including a horn, said mechanism being mounted in said base portion, a closure hinged to said base, and a lid pivoted to said closure, said lid and closure being together movable relative to said base to provide access to said sound reproducing mechanism, and said lid being movable relative to said closure to provide an extension for said horn.

12. In a portable phonograph, the combination of a casing including a support, a motor mounted on said support, a turntable spindle also mounted on said support, a turntable mounted on said spindle, means for delivering power from said motor to said turntable, a horn resting on said support, and a sound arm connected to said horn in close proximity to said support and adapted to reproduce sound from a record resting on said turntable.

13. In a portable phonograph, the combination of a casing including a support, a motor mounted on said support, a turntable spindle also mounted on said support at a point remote from said motor, a turntable mounted on said spindle, means for delivering power from said motor to said turntable, a horn resting on said support, and a sound arm connected to said horn in close proximity to said support and adapted to reproduce sound from a record resting on said turntable.

ALFRED WHITAKER. 

